Nick Zoricic: Canadian Skier Dies From Injuries Sustained in Crash

Canadian competitive skier Nick Zoricic died from head injuries after crashing in a World Cup skicross event on Saturday, according to ABC and the International Ski Federation. He was 29 years old.

The accident happened on the final jump of the skicross event in Grindelwald, Switzerland, when Zoricic jumped off course and head first into the orange safety netting. The reports state that the skier died as a result of "severe neurotrauma."

The International Ski Federation released the following statement about the death of the young man and star athlete:

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Nick Zoricic fell heavily just before the finish in the round of eight, crashing directly into the safety netting and thereafter lying motionless. The medical care from team doctors and Air Glacier followed immediately. The organizing committee, FIS and Swiss Ski express their deepest condolences to the family and friends of Nick Zoricic and the Canadian Ski Team.

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The organizers of the event have canceled all remaining contests and will worry about rescheduling when their tight-knit community has had time to grieve.

While Zoricic was a very young man, he had raced on the World Cup circuit for more than three years and was competing in his 36th event. He finished eighth in the World Championships at Deer Valley, Utah in 2011.

This already tragic news has been compounded by the death of fellow Canadian skier Sarah Burke earlier this year. Both were 29 years old at the time of their passing.

The sport of skiing is usually associated with pleasure and leisure, but the sadness that surrounds the death of Zoricic brings that fact that the sport is still very dangerous back into the limelight.

The people most affected by this tragedy will lean on each other to get them through, and the entire sports world shares their sympathy with both the people close with Zoricic.

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